The surprising consequence of the Kaukalotrage: A Finnish product is being torn out of control

A cloth collar or bib that can save a life.

That’s how you can describe the neck guard that appeared on the wallpaper of a former NHL hockey player by Adam Johnson after a tragic death. Johnson died last week after an opponent’s skate cut his neck during a game in England’s EIHL league.

A neck protector is mandatory equipment in Finland, but not everyone uses it – at least not correctly.

– In general, the guards have been made much narrower. Then the shield does not support the purpose for which it was created, the Jokers Olavi Vauhkonen34, reveals.

Vauhkonen wears a neck protector in games and training, but knows that in some teams the protector is worn around the neck mainly because of the sponsor advertisement sold for it. Some keep the protection too low.

There are manufacturer-specific differences in the covers.

– The players of the old union have not wanted to wear neck protection. I think you get used to it after a few times. I hope the players use the protection as it should because it protects against serious injuries.

Serious injury

Jokers Teemu Henritius, 30, all cut protectors are in use: wrist protectors, cut protector socks and neck protector. The serious attitude started after the accident.

In the fall of 2012, Henritius played his second SM league match of the season. Suddenly, in a corner fight, the blade of the opponent’s skate got under the back flap of the Jokerit forward’s skate.

– The skate cut across the calf muscle and Achilles tendon. The whole season was in the package. I would certainly have gotten into the game faster if there had been guards, recalls Henritius, who has played almost 400 SM league matches in his career.

The striker has heard that some players don’t like thick or tight neck guards.

– Some people find it distressing if they are struggling on the ice and something tightens around their neck. I haven’t felt that way.

Finnish skills

The protection includes a collar that can be tightened around the neck with Velcro and a flap that protects the chest. Some models have rubber loops that fit under the shoulder pads to hold the neck protector in place.

– Before, the neck protector was a traditional ring around the neck and very thick. They have moved on, Henritius praises.

The fabric of the neck guard does not seem very thick. However, it is a cut protection fabric.

– The blade of the skate practically stops and does not make a deep wound. I’ve never heard of anyone getting hurt with this, Henritius praises.

The story continues after the picture.

The Finnish company Orneule has developed a cut protection material called Cutlon, which is delivered to, for example, the United States.

One of the customers is Warroad, which manufactures cut protection underwear for the NHL. The owner of the company is an NHL star TJ Oshie.

Now the Finnish product is being torn out of control.

– We already had an order from Warroad before (Johnson’s) case. After that, the number of orders doubled. We cannot deliver everything directly from stock. Kone makes more all the time in Finland, Orneulee’s sales manager Timo Uotila tells.

There are two types of material: slightly thinner and more flexible, or sturdy and particularly strong. The blade of the skate does not cut through either of them.

Florida Panthers became interested in Finnish material after Johnson’s death.

– The head of Florida asked us for a sample. There has been talk of cut guards in North America before, but the death in the rink was the last straw, says Uotila.

More risks

According to jokers Henritius and Vauhkonen, neck protection is used in Finland and Sweden, but rarely abroad.

In Finland, judges have the power to monitor the use of appropriate protection.

– If it is noticed that protection is not used in the games, the team will receive information from the judges that the neck protectors are in use. A two-minute timeout is given in the game if you don’t use it despite the request, says Henritius.

In the SM league, the rule is not enforced literally. Iltalehti already wrote in 2021 that numerous SM league hockey players play with their necks bare.

Vauhkonen and Henritius hope that Johnson’s tragedy will make the players change their ways.

– The accident was terrible. The game has sped up a lot, and there will be even more unpredictable situations. The balance can go, Vauhkonen says.

– The protections should be in good condition, he continues.

Canadian TSN previously reported that at least three NHL clubs have ordered neck guards for their players to be tested. The Pittsburgh Penguins are going to make neck protection mandatory for their AHL team, and According to ESPN the junior league WHL decided to ban neck protection this week.

In North America, equipment manufacturers are worried about running out of neck protectors due to increased demand.